Clean the place up!

BY ELLEN ROHR
contributing writer

I’m so excited! One of my favorite business builders, Brian Scudamore, is going to be my guest on our BlogTalkRadio show on April 27th. He is the founder of 1-800-GOT JUNK. He started the company at 18 years old — just him and one truck. Now, he has more than 250 locations and the company is a media darling and a rockstar in the franchise world. At 1-800-GOT JUNK they get their customers to pay to haul their unwanted stuff away, even though they can put it on the curb and the garbage man will take it away for free. (Join in the fun at www.barebonesbiz.com/radio.html )

Brian and his franchisees understand the power of publicity and clever marketing. Perhaps you’ve seen blue-wigged, 1800-GOT JUNK team members waving their logoed signs on a busy street? Brian and his junk removers have been the subject of more than 5,000 news stories and magazines articles. Another marketing coup? 1-800-GOT JUNK is the official clean-up team of the wildly popular TV show, “Hoarders,” on The Learning Channel (tlc).

Have you seen this show? Wow, I didn’t realize what a problem hoarding is for some people.

NOTE: Could you be a hoarder? Is your shop a disaster? Are you squeezing through a maze of your “collections” or “inventory”? Is your spouse or partner threatening to throw things out? Throw you out? If so, read on.

NOTE: Are you a neatnik? Is your shop pristinely clean? If so, no need to read further. If you are concerned about someone you love who is buried under clutter, read on.

A serious hoarding problem is a challenge outside of my professional realm. I didn’t realize how sensitive this issue can be. I am a “throw-it-out-er.” If I am not using it, it’s gone. I put my wedding dress in a garage sale. I have seen some tragically messy shops. I always suggest that the owners, “Clean the place up!” I now understand that for many folks it is not as easy as, “Let’s just throw everything away and start fresh!” I once told a Plumber there was no need for 50 shelf feet of parts manuals now that you can find that information on the internet. He promptly escorted me to the door, and claimed that I failed to appreciate, “the biggest collection of manufacturers’ literature east of the Mississippi.” Who knew?
It’s up to you to decide if your life has gotten out of control. If so, you may need spiritual or professional help.

Perhaps you have just gotten lax and it’s time to raise the standards of cleanliness at your place of business? If so, I encourage you to clean it up. Know this: Your messy shop will repel “right stuff” people. No world- class companies of any kind celebrate (or even tolerate) a stinking mess of a shop, office, ship, truck, factory floor, restaurant kitchen, storefront, handcart, toolbox or surgical instrument. When it comes to business: Clean is good. Dirty is bad.

Ready to clean the place up? Here’s a handy checklist for getting it done!

• Put someone in charge. Could be you. You can always hire a professional organizer to help. Check out the National Association of Professional Organizers http://www.napo.net/referral Meet with him or her to plan the Clean Up Day.

• Learn what you MUST save as far as records go. Ask your accountant for a list of items or search http://www.sba.gov or http://www.irs.gov

• Meet with team members in appropriate groups to get a plan and a lay out for each area of the shop and office.

– What functions need to happen there? What’s needed in that space? What’s getting in the way?

– You could create a space for a company “museum.” This would be a special area where, for instance, you display your daddy’s first business license from 1935. Neatly framed, of course. Before Clean Up Day, round up treasured items and make arrangements to display them properly.

– There might be disagreements about what goes where as you may out each space. As the owner or the manager, you make the final call.

• Pick a day and put it on your Calendar. “Clean Up Day!” Alert all team members. Let them know when you will start, when you’ll stop and that you will be cleaning and organizing the shop and office.

BONUS! You could add an extra day to paint and recarpet. It is amazing what a coat of paint and new floor covering can do for the shop, and your frame of mind.

• Alert employees that if there is anything that they own personally that they want to take home prior to the Clean Up Day, they should do so.

This is a mandatory, on-the-clock day and employees will be paid for it. You will be closed for business, except for emergency calls. Assign the “emergency responders.”

– It’s an “old clothes” day. You are all going to get messy as you clean so dress appropriately and comfortably.

• Arrange to rent and pick up a power washer, unless you have one.

• Have buckets, rubber gloves, eye protection and cleaning supplies on hand.

• Assign someone to call out for food and drinks to be delivered. Your treat.

• Put names in a hat and assign clean up spaces (areas of responsibility) for the day.

– You have to clean the area you draw unless someone else agrees to a trade. Teams of two are good.

– The outside of the building, the landscaping, the parking lot, these can be areas of responsibility, too.

• The basics of clean up are:

– Take everything you can safely move with two people out of the space.

– Put things straight in the dumpster, the recycle bins or in a “Junk” pile. Or, put it in the “Keep” pile. Be very selective about what you keep. Even if it is brand new, if you don’t need it, you can throw it out or recycle it.

– Clean everything in the space, from ceiling to floor, with an appropriate cleaner. When it doubt, use vinegar or water. Don’t be afraid of elbow grease.

– Use the power washer whenever possible. (I love power washing!)

– Going to paint and redo the floors? Do it now.

– Refer to the plans you made prior to Clean Up Day. Lay out the space and arrange the furniture. Consider what work goes on in the area and how you can best arrange the “real estate.”

– Put the “Keep” stuff back in the space, cleaning every item as you do.

• Arrange to have the Junk hauled off. Whoever you use, ask if they can help you recycle what’s recyclable, too.

• When it doubt, throw it out. Yep. Do it. Really. You can always buy another one. (If you resist too hard here, I will ask you to watch an episode of Hoarders.)

• Arrange for flowers to be delivered to every space the day after the Clean Up Day.

• Lead the charge! Bring your energy to the party and have some fun!

At the end of Clean Up Day, take pictures. This is your new standard. This is how your shop should look every day. Nice!

• Assign areas of responsibility for who will make sure the place is clean at the end of the day. You can make a map of the shop, and laminate it. Use a grease pencil to write the responsible person’s name on each area of the building. Rotate people so that no one person always gets the kitchen or the bathrooms.

• You can also enlist a professional cleaning company to do the bathrooms and floors. It’s a nice perk. Raise your prices so that you can afford it. Even with a cleaning service, the employees can keep the place neat and tidy between professional cleanings.

• Create written procedures for daily maintenance and clean up. Put the procedures and the pictures in your operations manuals.

Ahhh. Good work! Now, time to plan a Clean Up the Trucks Day! n

Comments, questions or challenges? Reach me at 417.753.1111 or contact@barebonesbiz.com. Ready for business to be easy and profitable? It’s possible! Check out www.StepByStepBusinessBuilding.com